Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, says Formula 1 is bigger than any single race and Monaco needs to improve what it offers to the sport to stay on schedule.
The Monaco Grand Prix has been a fixture on the F1 calendar, with its only absence being caused by COVID-19 in 2020. A number of new iconic events have been added in recent years – including Races on the Las Vegas Strip 2023. Brown believes the often-litigated Monaco race – which pays no fee to host the race – needs to be updated to be relevant to stay.
“Monaco has always represented the most glamorous part of Formula One,” Brown told Reuters. “I think Miami, Singapore and Las Vegas are starting to add some pretty glamorous markets.
“I think Monaco has to meet the same commercial requirements as other Grands Prix and maybe also work on how they can adapt their track because the bigger our cars got the more difficult the racing became.”
Brown wants Monaco to remain part of F1 but says the historic aspect of the race shouldn’t be taken as a guarantee that it’ll be on the ever-expanding calendar at all costs.
“You have to consider, but then I think you have to consider, ‘What’s the show that’s delivering it?’
“There’s also an element — which shouldn’t influence our decisions, but should be part of our decisions — of, ‘What is the economic contribution to sport?’
“I would much rather have Monaco than not, but as the sport is bigger than any individual driver or team, I think it’s bigger than any single Grand Prix.”
Referring to the latest event to add to the calendar in Las Vegas, Brown says the race is ideally placed alongside Austin and Miami to cater to the growing US fan base, adding, “I think these are three great markets. I think it’s almost the perfect schedule from an American perspective.”